Published 2007 | Version v1
Miscellaneous Open

The concentration wave in the electric power and natural gas industries in Europe

Description

European electric power and natural gas industries are characterised by many concentration operations. In a first analysis, this evolution is rather natural because, on the one hand, the application of the European deregulation directives, on the other hand, economies of scale in these sectors. However, if the consolidation wave is the mechanical consequence of the modification of the competition rules, we can question the risks raised by this concentration wave. The constitution of an electric power - gas oligopoly induced in Europe a situation of 'multi-market contacts' which is favourable to collusion. But the overall evaluation will also depend of the dynamic properties of this new industrial structure: it means the ability to guarantee the continuity of services, investments and innovation. The traditional arbitrage in Industrial Organization between efficiency and market power is in the centre of this concentration movement in Europe. (author)

Abstract (French)

Les industries europeennes de l'electricite et du gaz naturel connaissent un mouvement de concentration sans precedent. En premiere analyse, cette evolution est assez naturelle sous l'impulsion des directives europeennes de liberalisation et l'existence d'economies d'echelles. Cependant, si la consolidation est ainsi la consequence mecanique de la modification des regles concurrentielles, il faut s'interroger sur les risques egalement portes par un tel mouvement. La constitution d'un oligopole electro-gazier induit en Europe une situation de 'multimarket contacts' propice a l'emergence de formes de collusion. Mais le bilan global depend aussi des proprietes de cette structure de marche en termes 'd'efficacite dynamique', c'est-a-dire de la capacite a assurer securite d'approvisionnement, investissement et innovation. L'arbitrage traditionnel en Economie Industrielle efficacite - pouvoir de marche est au coeur de l'analyse de ce mouvement de concentration. (auteur)

Files

49107793.pdf

Files (97.8 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:551fd4b7a9903025ca3bc9fa85474071
97.8 kB Preview Download

Additional details

Additional titles

Original title (French)
Le mouvement de concentration dans les industries electriques et gazieres en Europe

Publishing Information

Imprint Pagination
13 p.
Report number
INIS-FR--18-1494

Optional Information

Notes
Available from the INIS Liaison Officer for France, see the INIS website for current contact and E-mail addresses